Subsurface irrigator



May 3, 1932. J. H. FOSTER )SUBSURFACE IRRIGATOR Filed June 26, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 3mm JiZFasZez Patented May 3, 1932 UNETEEE ffii i ii JOSEPH H. FOSTER, OF GEORGETOWN, TEXAS SUBSURFAGE IRRIGATOR Application filed .Tune 26,

This invention relates to a machine for use in supplying water to cultivated or fallow lands at desired distances below the surface of the ground without waste and evaporation and in any quantity required by the nature of the soil and the character of the growing crops.

It is a well known fact that surface irrigation requires from eighty-five to ninety per cent more water than is necessary to produce the same results from sub-surface irrigation. Consequently it is an object of the present invention to greatly reduce the cost of tillage and to provide a means whereby a dry farm can be converted readily into an irrigated one.

A further object is to provide a simple and efficient sub-soil irrigator which can be manipulated readily and is formed of compara- I tively few parts which will not readily get out of order.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes wardly extending tongue 2 constituting a continuation of a central beam 3. The frame is supported by side wheels 1 mounted in depending yokes 5, and another wheel 6 mounted in a depending yoke 7 supports the front portion of the frame.

Depending from beam 3 is a hanger 8 having a slot 9 extending through the upper portion thereof.

1930. Serial No. 463,994.

The lower end of the hanger is forked as indicated at 10.

A. beam 11 is pivotally mounted in the forked lower end of hanger 8 and is provided at its rear end with a downwardly and forwardly curved standard 12 the forward end portion of which extends under and is secured to a transversely bowed plate 13 formed of heavy sheet metal or a casting and tapered forwardly to a point 14.

A slide 15 mounted in the slot 9 and has a link 16 connected to it and to a clamp 17 which is adjustably mounted on beam 11. i-inother lin r 18 is pivotally connected to the forward end of the slide and to the lower end of a lever 19 which is fulcrumed on tongue 2 as shown at 20. A toothed segment 21 is mounted on the beam and cooperates .vith pawl mechanism 22 on the lever for holding the lever in any position to which it may be adjusted angularly Secured on frame 1 is a water tank 23 of any desired shape and proportion and this tank is provided with an outlet 24 from which is extended a flexible hose 25. The hose opens into a nozzle 26 which is secured to and extends under the plate 13 at a point back of the standard 12.

A valve 27 is movably mounted in the tank and pivotally connected to it is a rod 28 which extends through the front wall of the tank and carries a spring 29. This spring serves to press rod 28 backwardly so as to hold the valve normally seated to close outlet 24.

A rod 30 is slidably mounted in the lever 19 and is suitably connected, as by a link 81, to the forward end of rod 28.

Tank 23 is adapted to be filled with water at which time lever 19 is pressed back substantially to the position shown by broken a saving of from eighty-five to ninety per When lever 19 pulled forwardly it ultimately exerts a pull through the parts 30 and 31 on rod 28, thereby compressing spring 29 and opening valve 27. Consequently as the point reaches its lower or active position and begins to plow through the sub-soil, water will be released through outlet 24 into hose 25 and be delivered through the nozzle 26 into the space beneath the bowed plate 13;

Thus water can be directed into the sub=soil e without Waste and without loss due to evap' oration and by placing the water as described cent ofwater which would otherwisebe used for surface irrigation, is effected.

Obviously the structure of the machine can be modified in various ways without departing from the invention. 7

What is cla med is:

A sub-soil irrigator including a wheelsupported framefa water container thereon having an outlet,a beam movably supported beneath the container, a point carried thereby, a nozzle connected to and extending under the point, a flexible tubular connection between the nozzle and the container, a slide beneath the container, a link connection between the slide and beam, a lever for actuating the slide vand link to raise or lower the beam, and means controlled by the movement of thelever for shutting off the supply of water to the nozzle when the beam begins its upward movement-and for releasing water to the nozzle when the beam approaches the lower limit of its movement, said means including a watervalve in the tank, a spring for holding the valve normally closed across the outlet of the container, and a lost-motion Q 7 connection between the valve and lever.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as myown, I have hereto alfiXedmy signature,

JOSEPH FOSTER. 

